Army Colonel Scott Thein, one of the first group of U.S. military personnel to arrive in Tbilisi earlier this week within the parameters of the \"Train and Equip\" program, told journalists in Tbilisi on 2 May that he and his fellow instructors will conduct four stages of antiterrorist training for Georgian forces, after which they will return to the U.S., rather than establish a permanent military presence in Georgia. Thein also stressed that, \"It is not the intention of my government, nor do I know of any plans for U.S. forces to be involved at all in the internal security issues of Georgia.\" (Caucasus Press)